Thanksgiving 2014: TV Things We’re Thankful For

Hello GMMR readers! Here at GMMR, we are so incredibly grateful to each person who visits and comments (and Retweets and Reblogs, etc. etc.!) and shares their feelings about TV! This site has always been about loving TV and sharing that love, and so we (Marisa, Kelly, and Sarah) wanted to take a minute and create TV Things We’re Thankful For: 2014 edition. So whether you are celebrating Thanksgiving today or not, we hope you enjoy our list—and that you will add a few of your favorite things in the comments! (Note: Technically anything that aired in 2014 can be included, so if you’re catching up on a show and don’t want to be spoiled, be wary!)

Kelly

THE X-FILES: I’m 21 years late to this (UFO) party, but I’m here now, and I couldn’t be happier about it. Mulder and Scully have taken over my life. They’re the ultimate TV relationship. Why did no one tell me this before?

Gillian Anderson on my television: At least catching up with THE X-FILES won’t mean saying goodbye to Gillian Anderson, who joins HANNIBAL full time this season while continuing to dig her heels into the patriarchy (gorgeously) on THE FALL.

One last season of PARKS AND RECREATION: To be clear, I cry whenever the words “PARKS AND RECREATION” come within 100 miles of the word “finale.” Saying goodbye to this show will be rough, but the fact that it’s still here is a TV miracle worth celebrating. Somehow, this little show made it to a seventh season, and after so many years writing episodes that MIGHT have been series finales, showrunner Mike Schur finally gets to craft an intentional one.

200 episodes of BONES: It’s only a matter of time until there are more episodes of BONES than there are bones in the human body. Well done, everyone.

DOCTOR WHO’s creative energy: Season 8 of DOCTOR WHO was Steven Moffat’s sharpest as showrunner. Peter Capaldi brought the weight of his screen presence and the excitement of a lifelong Doctor Who fan, and he looked so good with Jenna Coleman, who turned Clara Oswald into the boldest and most fully realized companion in years. Everything alien in the Doctor brought out everything human in Clara, and it worked.

David Tennant on American talk shows: Thank you, GRACEPOINT, for giving David Tennant an excuse to steal a TARDIS from Craig Ferguson’s desk and criticize its windows.

Season three of SHERLOCK: It’s been almost a year since Watson celebrated his stag night, Molly stabbed a guy’s hand with a fork, Greg Lestrade cemented his status as Scotland Yard’s resident silver fox, and Sherlock gave a toast. I’m still not over any of it.

Danny Castellano’s dance moves: Mindy Kaling knows what we want, because she wants it too.

Victor Garber on THE FLASH: Everything is better with Spy Daddy.

The Mills sisters: Tom Mison’s left eyebrow brings the sass to SLEEPY HOLLOW, but right now, it’s Abbie and Jenny’s relationship that brings the heart. They have each other’s backs, and they get things done. You couldn’t pick two better sisters to save the world.

Sarah

BROOKLYN NINE-NINE: This show has become appointment TV for me, and it never fails to make me laugh. They have handled every character so perfectly, and I love that.

THE MINDY PROJECT: I loved Mindy Kaling’s book a few years ago, and I love her positive viewpoint on romance in TV and movies, and she has folded that in to the show this season — delightfully so

Felicity standing up for what she wants in a relationship (ARROW). I definitely ship Olicity, and it’s not that I necessarily enjoy seeing Oliver humbled/struggling right now, but for the Oliver/Felicity relationship to work, they both have to be committed to it. So when Oliver said he couldn’t be, I liked that Felicity essentially said that wasn’t what she wanted.

PARKS AND RECREATION: Like Kelly said, I’m so glad it’s able to go out on its own terms. I am excited for it (and dreading the moment it will be over).

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE: I’m glad it’s still on the air. It has evolved and managed to hang in there; it’s such a special show that displays phenomenal talent through encouragement and shared appreciation for the arts.

MASTERCHEF JUNIOR: Even though these young, talented children can sometimes make me feel like I haven’t done anything significant in my life, it’s incredibly uplifting to see them encouraged in their passion for cooking; the kids never fail to encourage one another also–and that is refreshing.

SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED: This Hallmark movie-turned-tv show was a fun, quirky series that had a lot of heart.

ENLISTED: I could create a separate ‘Top 10 Things I’m Thankful For’ list for this show alone, but instead, I’ll highlight my favorite things: the brother relationship played by Stults, Lowell & Young, the way they addressed and subtly dealt with Pete’s PTSD, the way the show responded positively to initial criticism and actively worked to make things right.

David Letterman: Speaking of top ten lists, David Letterman has been excellent these past few months. I will cry many, many tears when Dave performs his last show, but at the same time, his retirement announcement has (I believe) spurred him into a bit of a renaissance. I’m DVR-ing every episode right now, because I don’t want to miss a moment.

BONES: I’ll always be grateful for BONES, and the amazing love story that it is. Like Kelly, I think it’s amazing that we’ll reach 200 episodes by the end of this year. (And if you’re so inclined, here are some teaser pictures from the episode!) Highlights of 2014 for me include: Freddie Prinze Jr. guest star appearance, B&B scene at the end of “Lost Love”, Hodgins meeting his brother.

Marisa

BROOKLYN NINE-NINE and THE GOLDBERGS: With the new 2014-2015 comedies that I loved having extremely short runs (sorry, A TO Z and SELFIE), my appreciation for two of my favorite comedies from last year has only grown. Both BROOKLYN NINE-NINE and THE GOLDBERGS have consistently stayed funny, while never compromising what makes each show uniquely its own thing.

THE AFFAIR: It sounds silly, but no show has stuck with me as much as Showtime’s newest drama has. In hindsight, it’s almost baffling no other series has used the he said/she said format this way before, but the way THE AFFAIR has executed it is absolutely haunting. I’m so glad it’s getting a second season.

Network television: I often hear network television get dismissed, which is just…utterly ridiculous. Sure, network and cable shows can be vastly different, but just because a show doesn’t air on cable doesn’t disqualify it from actually being a quality series. Heck, I’d argue PERSON OF INTEREST and THE GOOD WIFE (yes, I finally caught up on the latter) are two of the best shows on TV right now, period.

SUPERNATURAL and BONES getting 200 episodes: It’s almost unfathomable that both of these shows will reach 200 episodes in 2014. Both have been bounced around their respective network’s schedule (including airing Fridays) and were always the “little engine that could.” And now they’re at (or about to reach) 200 episodes, a milestone so very shows reach. Incredible. And so well-deserved.

The DC television shows: DC Comics has taken over television, and I’m watching it all. THE FLASH is one of the most delightful new shows this year; GOTHAM has delivered a massive breakout star in Robin Lord Taylor (plus, it’s great and gorgeous); ARROW has taken big steps this year with killing off a former member of the team and pushing a few characters to the next step in their evolution; and while NBC might be keeping CONSTANTINE’s first season run short, I’m enjoying what the show has done so far. At some point, additional shows might overload the TV landscape, but for now, I’m enjoying what DC Comics has on our screens.

SLEEPY HOLLOW: Yes, the second season has been a bit hit-or-miss. But that season 1 finale was arguably the best episode the show has ever done — and delivered one of the only a handful of true TV shocks I’ve experienced in the past couple of years. (Seriously, the last episode that I can recall shocking me as much as SH’s season 1 finale was what happened to Peter at the end of the FRINGE season 3 finale.) When SLEEPY HOLLOW is at its best, it is a damn excellent show.

YOU’RE THE WORST: Ugh, I love this show. Despite the title, none of these characters actually are the worst (most of the time): the show is wickedly funny, insanely quotable (I’m singing “Sunday Funday” in my head as I write this), and relatable. Bring on season 2!

This may be cheating, but I’m thankful for every single GMMR reader, as well as the amazing contributions to the site from Sarah, Kelly, and Danielle. (And without those ladies, this job wouldn’t be half as fun as it is.) We’re all super TV nerds, and I love talking about television with all of you. Thank you to everyone for making this the best job ever.

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